MUSCAT: The Supreme Committee members are holding a press conference on Thursday to talk about the latest developments regarding coronavirus in Oman.

Following are the members addressing the media

• His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Al Saidi, Minister of Health
• Her Excellency Dr. Madiha Al Shaibaniyyah, Minister of Education, Member of the Supreme Committee
• His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Al Mamari, Ministry of Religious and Endowment Affairs
• Naif Al Abri, CEO of Civil Aviation Authority
• Dr. Saif Al Abri, Ministry of Health
• Dr. Yahya Al Harthy, Ministry of Education
• Major General Abdullah bin Ali Al Harthi – Assistant Inspector General of Police & Customs for Operation
  
  Excerpts from the press conference:
  
  Minister of Health: There are those who question the feasibility of the measures that have been taken, including closure and movement bans, but the numbers are the best witness to the feasibility of the measures.
  
  Minister of Health: Vaccines prevent the severity of the disease, reduce the rate of hospitalization and reduce deaths, but they are not a complete prevention of transmission and transmission of the virus.. There are countries where the vaccination rate has reached 80%, but the infections have returned.
  
  Minister of Health: The number of Covid-19 doses that the Sultanate has reserved so far exceeds 8,570,000 doses
  
  Minister of Health: Scientifically and healthfully, it is premature about giving a third dose of vaccines
  
  Minister of Health: After the direction of some countries to give the vaccine to those aged 6 years and over, we decided to book additional doses
  
  Minister of Health: There is no need to obtain a third booster dose of Covid-19 vaccines so far, according to the World Health Organization
  
  Minister of Health: We seek, in the middle of September, for every Omani citizen to receive the second dose, so that we can start implementing the measures that were issued before.
  
  Minister of Health: The longer the virus has existed at the global level, the higher the proportion of mutant ones, as the most prevalent is the mutated “delta”.
  
  Minister of Health: Let me ask those who say I have the right not to be vaccinated. Have you thought, if I transmit the infection to a person and cause his death, where does your right stand? And where are your duties?
  
  Undersecretary for Endowments and Religious Affairs: The Ministry has taken a gradual approach to opening mosques
  
  Minister of Health: There has been a significant decrease in the number of patients hospitalised and in intensive care. Precautionary measures must be followed despite the high rate of vaccination. The total doses Oman has recieved so far exceeds 3,950,000.
  
  Minister of Education: The ministry will continue to evaluate the school operating system, in coordination with the Ministry of Health, in line with the latest epidemiological situation in the Sultanate to ensure the safety of our students, teaching and administrative staff.
  
  Minister of Education: The Sultanate has dealt with the Corona pandemic by adopting a package of precautionary measures to confront the various challenges that have emerged from the exceptional circumstances of the pandemic, and the education sector has received a high priority
  
  Minister of Education: MOE has given schools and educational directorates the necessary authority to find various alternatives for students to continue their education in the weeks when they are at home
  
  Dr. Muhammed Al Mamari: Society has proven its ability to positively adapt in applying precautionary measures in mosques and places of worship, according to the guiding guide, and thanks to the efforts of those in charge, the Ministry has not recorded anything to the contrary.
  
  Minister of Education: Teaching, supervisory and administrative bodies, information technology technicians and parents, in cooperation with the health sector, have an active role in the successful operation of schools, the conduct of the academic year, and the management and implementation of general education diploma exams as intended
  
  Minister of Health: No Omani citizen who is abroad and has not been vaccinated will be prevented from returning to Oman, provided that precautionary measures are followed
  
  Minister of Health: I know there is a backlog of operations for two years, which will be a big challenge, but with everyone’s cooperation, we will find innovative solutions
  
  Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs: In the first phase, mosques and mosques with a capacity to accommodate 400 worshipers or more were opened.
  
  Minister of Health: More than a million people have received two doses of vaccine.
  
  Nayef bin Ali Al Abri, President of the Civil Aviation Authority: CAA has been keen during the past period to plan in advance for the gradual and safe return of regular flights to the Sultanate since it was approved during the month of October 2020
  
  CAA CEO: Civil aviation activities continue to be affected by the Corona pandemic, as the total incoming and outgoing flights to the Sultanate decreased by 70 percent, 81 percent of the number of passengers, and 28 percent of various cargoes.
  
  Minister of Health: We do not intentionally make our decisions vague and the conference comes to answer the public’s questions
  
  Minister of Health: There are no exceptions to not taking the vaccination except for health reasons. Why deprive your child of protection from the virus and entry to school?
  
  Dr. Saif Al Abri: 100% return to work in all government sectors and institutions starting from the first of September
  
  Minister of Health: In the past, there was a sweeping attack on the Ministry of Health about not providing vaccines.. Today vaccinations are available and they are the best in the world.
  
  Dr. Yahya bin Khamis Al-Harthy, Director General of Curriculum Development at the Ministry of Education: The ministry has a large balance of electronic curricula, and many lessons and electronic content related to the live broadcast have been recorded and are available and can be used for the next year.
  
  Minister of Health: The health sector in the Sultanate will seek cooperation between all governmental and private health institutions to deal with those who have delayed operations, appointments or others, and there are some programs that have not been affected despite this pandemic, including the expanded program for immunizing children
  
  Undersecretary of the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs: The Supreme Committee is studying the return of Friday prayers, and the decision may be issued during its meeting next week
  
  Minister of Health: We aim to finish vaccinating all target groups with two doses of Covid-19 vaccines by the end of September
  
  ‎Minister of Health: There is a meeting in the near future regarding the exemption of the citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council from the PCR examination, who received two doses of the vaccinations approved in these countries, provided that the time period for the last dose exceeded two weeks.
  
  Dr. Saif Al Abri: ‎ The land ports between the Sultanate and United Arab Emirates will be opened starting from the first of September, according to the conditions set by the Supreme Committee, including taking the vaccine and examination before coming to the port.
  
  Minister of Health: The percentage of vaccinated people in the Governorate of Dhofar increased to 53 percent. The percentage of inpatients of the governorate’s visitors who were there for the purpose of tourism last week amounted to zero percent, “and this is evidence of the effectiveness of vaccination.”
  
  Major General Abdullah Al Harthy: All visas issued since the beginning of the year will be extended until the end of the year, and no additional fees will be imposed for the extension.. Everyone who has employment outside the Sultanate can enter the Royal Oman Police website and will find that these visas have been extended
  
  Minister of Health: Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine is approved in the Sultanate, and a second dose will not be required for those who received it
  
  Dr. Saif Al-Abri: For residents currently outside Oman, who have taken a single dose of a vaccine not approved for use in Oman, should not expect to get the second dose in the Sultanate since it will not be available.
  
  Dr. Saif Al Abri: At least one dose of vaccine will be mandatory for expatriates to renew residency visas for expatriates. And these vaccines must be approved in the Sultanate.
  
  Dr. Saif Al Abri: From October 1, obtaining two doses will be mandatory for citizens and residents, with the continuation of all precautionary measures of physical distancing and wearing a mask
  
  Major General Abdullah Al Harthy: Starting from September 1, the air, land and sea ports of the Sultanate will be open to all, taking into account precautionary measures according to the decisions of the Supreme Committee.
  
  Minister of Health: We have plans to expand campaigns to vaccinate expat residents, especially those whose companies and their sponsors were not interested in vaccinating them. For this we have obtained 500,000 doses of the “Sinovac vaccine”.
  
  Minister of Health: Visitors or expat residents who are coming to Oman must take two doses of approved vaccines for entering the country. They must also take a PCR 72-hours before travel to be exempted from quarantine.
  
  Minister of Health: Residents who have taken one dose of the approved vaccine from Oman can return but they must take PCR test 72 hours before travel, and another PCR upon arrival in Oman and also go into quarantine for 7-days. They must also take a PCR test on the 8th day. They should also vaccinate with the second dose soon after in Oman.